Acetylene generator



June 17, 1930'. H. e. lRWlN 1,763,390

ACETYLENE GENERATOR Filed Aug 22, 1927 Patented June 17,1930

HERBERT G. IRWIN, OF AMARILLO, TEXAS AGETYLENE GENERATOR Application filed August 22, 1927. Serial No. 214,468.

This invention relates to improvements in acetylene generators ofthe carbide to water type in which an automatically controlled valve regulates the gravitation of granular carbide from a carbide container into a water container, the rate of carbide feed being determined by the rate of consumption of acetylene generated. The automatic teed control being the opposed gas pressure type wherein a flexible diaphragm is arranged between two independent gas pressures whereby variation in one of the pressures will cause a movement of the diaphragm, the latter being connected so that its movement will effect the operation of a carbide feed valve.

The object of my invention is to provide new and useful improvements in the automatic opposed gas pressure valve feed type of acetylene generator.

A further object of my invention is to simplify the contour and improve the appearance of the automatic opposed gas pressure valve feed type of acetylene generator.

A further object of my invention is to remove from sight the pressure tank of the automatic feed control.

A further object of my invention is to improve on the method of mounting the pres sure tank of the automatic feed control.

A further object of my invention is to mount the feed control near the point of carbide feed.

longitudinal section.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the automatic teed removed from the carbide hopper shown in Fig. 1. a

Figure 3 is a sectional view through a carbide hopper of an acetylene generator showingan alternate form of my invention and method of mounting the same, the automatic 7 an acetylene generator is indicated bynumeral 1, the carbide hopper'2, the hopper bottom '3 and the hand feed 4.

In Fig. l the automatic feed is mounted inside the carbide hopper pendent from the center of the hopper head 2A,. and it consists of a vertical pressure tank 5, a diaphragm housingof two separable sections 6 and 7, a feed control diaphragm 8, a diaphragm spring 9 and a carbide feed valve 10. The upper portion of the pressure tank termi nates in an annular shoulder 11, and a constricted threaded extension 12, that projects through the hopper head at the center thereof. A nut 13 screws on the outer end of the tank extension clamping the tank to the under side of the hopper head. Gas from the carbide hopper enters the pressure tank through the angular passageway 14, and the outlet of the pressure tank is through this passageway. The needle valve 15, fitted in the tank extension 12 serves to close the passageway to confine gas in the pressure tank. The lower portion of the pressure tank terminates in the upper cupped section 6 of the control housing. The control diaphragm is composed of soft cured rubber having qualities of toughness and durability, saucer shaped and provided with a brim adapted to be clamped between the corresponding brims of the housing sections. The diaphragm spring is saucer shaped and disposed between the diaphragm and the lower flat section 7 of the diaphragm housing with its convex side toward the diaphragm. This spring normally presses the diaphragm up into the hollow of the upper section of the diaphragm housing. The spring may be cut from thin sheet stock of nonrusting spring metal, with equally spaced radial slits in its outer portion to form narrow spring sectors 9J. The

iving the spring a saucer like shape. he iaphragm and spring are clamped together by a concentric bolt with the nut on the under sideof the spring. This bolt nut has a dependin eye that clasps loosely wit-h acorrespon ing eye on-the uper end of the feed valve stem 1013, to form a kind of universal joint 16. The universal joint permits lateral movement of the carbide feed valve when the latter is lowered out of the feed opening and when pushed down and to the side by the hand feed. The cylindrical shield 70, depending from the under side of the housing section 7 holds carbide away from the upper portion of the valve stem and prevents, excess carbide over the feed valve. The hand feed consists of a smooth round poke rod 4, mounted for longitudinal alternate move ment in a removable tubular uide 4D, disposed inclined through the s'de wall of the carbide hopper. The lower end of the poke rod is directed toward the-side of the feed valve and upon pushing inwardly on the handle 4F, on the outer end of the rod, the inner end of the rod may be lowered to abut the side of the feed valve and push the valve open whereby to feed carbide from the hopper into the water chamber in raising the initial operating pressure in the generator.

. As for an instance, when the generator is refilled with carbide and water and all the fillopenings closed the hand feed may be used to feed some of the carbide out ofthe hopper into the water chamber to generate acetylene enough to raise the desiredwork ing pressure in the generator. The needle valve being in open position whilethe pressure is being raised may be closed when the desired pressure is reached. Upon drawing gas from the generator as in use, the pressure in the generator will be lessened and the pressure of gas confined in the pressure tank I will press on the convex side of the feed control diaphragm by way of apertures GH, in the upper diaphragm housing section 6. Thus the diaphragm will be flexed downwardly lowering the feed valveto feed more carbide into the water chamber which re sults in the generation of more acetylene. And presently suflicient acetylene will be generated to start the pressure in the generator upward and as pressure in the generator nears that in the pressure tank the diaphragm spring 9 moves the diaphragm upward closing the feed valve. The automatic feed perfm'ms repeatedly in much the same manner as consumption of gas is continued. By opening the needle valve 15 the automatic feed is put out of operation. With the needle valve open, gas in the pressure tank may equalize with that in the generator instead of pressing the diaphragm down as the pressure in the generator is lessened.

In Fig. 3 the automatic feed is mounted inside the carbide hopper also and it consists of a horizontal pressure tank 5 disposed dia metrically of the carbide hopper, a removable diaphragm housing of two separable-sections 6 and 7, a feed control .diaphragm 8, a diaphragm spring 9 and a carbide feed valve 1.0. One end of the pressure tank has a constricted threaded extension identical in configuration with the pressure tank in Fig. 1. The extension of this tank projects through the side wall of the hopper instead of-projecting through the head of the hopper as in Fig. 1. The nut 13 screws on the outer end of the tank extension clamping the end of the tank to the inner periphery of the side .wall of the hopper. The needle valve 15 in the projecting end of the tank is also the same as that in Fig. 1. The opposite end of the pressure tank is supported by the opposite side wall of the carbide hopper by means consisting in this instance of a band clamp 18, of two separable sections and a bracket 19. The feed control diaphragm housing depends from the under side of the pressure tank directly over the carbide feed opening in the hopper bottom. Gas from thepressure tank reaches the control diaphragm through the pipe nipple connection 6B. The control diaphragm and diaphragm spring, the lower section of thediaphragm housing, the valve stem and feed valve are the same as that in Fig. 1 and operate in the same manner.

Besides having the feedcontrol and pressure tank protected by the wall of the carbide hopper and near the point of carbide feed, eliminating troublesome outside piping and tubular connections usually associated with pressure tanks mounted on theoutside of the generator, there is an advantagein having carbide, about the feed control housing and pressure tank to help brace and dampen vibration in the latter, particularly in a portable generator for welding purposes mounted or fixed on a motor vehicle for cross country work.

While I have shown and described in two instances devices constructed, located and mounted in accordance with my invention, it will be manifest to persons skilled,in the art that many changes may be made in minor details of structure in adapting the device to various carbide hoppers, and slight changes in the mode of operation of same within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention; it is, therefore, to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the details described and shown.

What I claim is 1. In an automatic carbide feed for an acetylene generator, a carbide hopper, a stationary gas pressure tank, said tank disposed substantially within thewalls of said carbide hopper, a passageway adapted to admit gas into said pressure tank, a hand operated valve associated with said passageway, said valve adapted to close saidpassageway whereby gas may be confined in said pressure tank, a hand hold for operating said valve, said hand hold being on the outside of the wall of the carbide hopper, a depressible resilient carbide feed control diaphragm, the upper side of said diaphragm being exposed to'gas pressure from said pressure tank,'and a housing for said diaphragm within the walls of said hopper. I

2. In an automatic carbide feed for an acetylene generator, :1 carbidelmpper, a stationary gas pressure tank disposed substantially within the walls of the carbide hopper, a passageway associated with said pressure tank, said passagewa adapted to admit gas into said pressure tan a hand operated valve associated with said passageway, said valve adapted to close said passageway whereby gas may be confined in said pressure tank, a hand hold for operating said valve, said hand hold being on the outside of the wall of the carbide hopper.

3. In an automatic carbide feed for an acetylene generator, a carbide hopper, a coni-' cal bottom for said hopper, a carbide outlet in the small end of said hopper bottom, a stationary pressure tank mounted substantially within the carbide hopper, a housing supported directly over said carbide outlet and within the walls of said carbide hopper, a control diaphragm disposed within said hous ing, means for conveying gas from the pressure tank into the housing above said'diaphragm, a feed valve for regulating carbide through said carbide outlet, a stem connecting said feed valve with said diaphragm, a shield underneath said housing and above said feed valvc' adapted to prevent excess carbide upon the feed valve.

HERBERT G. IRWIN. 

